Biological security vehicle washing apparatus and method

Abstract

An automatic vehicle disinfection system for promoting biosecurity through application of a disinfectant to a vehicle transiting to and from an agricultural site. The automatic vehicle disinfection system including a station having one or more of opposed vehicle wash ramps, a disinfectant supply system including a pressure pump in fluid communication with a first and second riser tube, and at least one cross tube, and a control assembly including a pressure pump activation trigger configured to activate the pressure pump. The system further including a trailer hitch and a pivotable wheeled dolly configured to grip a portion of the one or more vehicle wash ramp and pivot about a wheeled axis, so as to raise at least a portion of the vehicle disinfection station off the ground for ease of transportation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile vehicle disinfection system for promoting biosecurity through the application of a disinfectant to a vehicle transiting to and from an agricultural site, the system comprising:
 a vehicle disinfection station, including—
 a vehicle wash ramp having a first ramp enabling the vehicle to smoothly transition from the ground to a vehicle wash platform and a second ramp enabling the vehicle to smoothly transition from the vehicle wash platform to the ground, wherein the vehicle wash ramp includes at least one channel formed therein; 
 a disinfectant system including a pressure pump in fluid communication with the first and second riser tube, and at least one cross tube, wherein the first and second riser tubes are in fluid connection with one another by the at least one cross tube, wherein the at least one cross tube at least partially resides within the at least one channel formed in the vehicle wash ramp, and wherein the first and second riser tubes and the at least one cross tube include a plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles; and 
 a control assembly including a pressure pump activation trigger configured to activate the pressure pump, and a pressure pump deactivation trigger configured to deactivate the pressure pump; 
   a wheeled moving dolly having a frame configured to grip a portion of the vehicle wash ramp and pivot about a wheel axis, so as to raise at least a portion of the vehicle disinfection station off the ground;   a trailer hitch operably coupled to the vehicle wash ramp, the trailer hitch selectively coupleable to a vehicle for towing the mobile vehicle disinfection system.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure pump activation trigger is at least one of an air switch, pushbutton, photoelectric eye, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure pump deactivation trigger is at least one of an air switch, photoelectric eye, timer, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wash ramp measures approximately eight feet in width. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional vehicle wash ramps to increase the width of the vehicle disinfection station. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a countdown timer displaying the number of seconds remaining for the application of disinfectant, and configured to be visible to the driver, so as to enable the driver to adjust the speed of their vehicle to ensure substantially equal disinfectant application over the entire length of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cross tube couples to other components of the disinfectant system via one or more quick disconnect couplings. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are evenly spaced across the riser tubes and cross tubes substantially over the span of a standard vehicle width, thereby enabling both left and right tires and undercarriage surfaces of the vehicle to be properly sanitized. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are spaced in a manner that provides more coverage to areas of the vehicle most likely to be in contact with bio-hazardous material. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are configured to dispense disinfectant to at least one of the wheel inners, outers, treads, wheel arches, undercarriage, front, rear, and sides of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic vehicle disinfection station for promoting biosecurity through application of a disinfectant to a vehicle transiting to and from an agricultural site, the system comprising:
 a pair of opposed vehicle wash ramps, where each vehicle wash ramp includes a first ramp enabling the vehicle to smoothly transition from the ground to a vehicle wash platform, and a second ramp enabling the vehicle to smoothly transition from the vehicle wash platform to the ground, wherein the vehicle wash platform includes at least one channel formed therein;   a disinfectant supply system including a pressure pump in fluid communication with a first and second riser tube, and at least one cross tube, wherein the first and second riser tubes are fluidly coupled to one another by the at least one cross tube, wherein at least one cross tube at least partially resides in the at least one channel formed in the vehicle wash platform, and wherein the first and second riser tubes and at least one cross tube include a plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles; and   a control assembly including a pressure pump activation trigger configured to activate the pressure pump, and a pressure pump deactivation trigger configured to deactivate the pressure pump.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure pump activation trigger is at least one of an air switch, pushbutton, photoelectric eye, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure pump deactivation trigger is at least one of an air switch, photoelectric eye, timer, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wash ramp measures approximately eight feet in width. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a countdown timer configured to be visible to the driver, so as to enable the driver to adjust the speed of their vehicle to ensure substantially equal disinfectant application over the entire length of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cross tube couples to other components of the disinfectant system via one or more quick disconnect couplings. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are evenly spaced across the riser tubes and cross tubes substantially over the span of a standard vehicle width, thereby enabling both left and right tires and undercarriage surfaces of the vehicle to be properly sanitized. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are spaced in a manner that provides more coverage to areas of the vehicle most likely to be in contact with bio-hazardous material. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile vehicle disinfection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disinfectant dispensing nozzles are configured to dispense disinfectant to at least one of the wheel inners, outers, treads, wheel arches, undercarriage, front, rear, and sides of the vehicle.